Introduction
Cancer continues to be among the most lethal diseases globally, with millions of new cases annually. Traditional anticancer agents such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy tend to have adverse effects and are not specific. As a result, there is increased interest in natural products of anticancer compounds. Recent studies identify the medicinal value of Astraeus asiaticus, a wild edible mushroom, with potential anticancer and antioxidant activity.
Anticancer Mushroom
Astraeus asiaticus belongs to the Basidiomycota phylum and is highly consumed in some areas because of its nutritional value. Its medicinal properties have been less studied, though. Current research indicates that extracts from the mushroom possess bioactive compounds with strong antioxidant and anticancer activity.
The ethyl acetate extract of Astraeus asiaticus (AAEAE) was rich in total phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acids. These are free radical scavengers that assist in the reduction of oxidative stress—a key promoter of cancer development.
Mycochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity
Chemical analysis of the AAEAE extract identified 61 compounds, with a fraction (F12) showing the highest radical scavenging activity (EC50 = 25.65 ± 4.82 µg/mL). The fractionation process led to the isolation of six bioactive compounds, namely:
- Hexadecanoic acid
- 3,4,5,6-Tetramethyloctane
- 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid
- 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester
- 1-Cyclododecyne
- Cis-9,10-Epoxyoctadecan-1-ol
Among these, Hexadecanoic acid, 3,4,5,6-Tetramethyloctane, and 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid demonstrated strong anticancer activity. The presence of these compounds suggests that Astraeus asiaticus could be an excellent source of natural antioxidants and potential therapeutic agents.
Anticancer Effects on Cancer Cell Lines
The anticancer potential of the F12 fraction was tested against three different cancer cell lines:
- HeLa (Cervical Cancer): 92.03% inhibition at 1500 µg/mL
- MCF-7 (Breast Cancer): 90.38% inhibition at 1500 µg/mL
- A549 (Lung Cancer): 87.51% inhibition at 1500 µg/mL
Interestingly, the F12 fraction had minimal effects on normal HEK 293T cells, indicating its selectivity towards cancer cells.
The anticancer mechanism was attributed to apoptosis induction, as evidenced by increased expression of apoptotic markers like Caspase 3, Caspase 9, and P53, and downregulation of anti-apoptotic protein BcL2.
Molecular Docking: Understanding the Mechanism
To further validate the anticancer properties of F12, molecular docking studies were conducted to analyze the binding affinity of key compounds with apoptotic (Caspase 3) and anti-apoptotic (BcL2) proteins. The results showed that:
- Hexadecanoic acid exhibited strong interactions with BcL2 (-7.60 kcal/mol) and Caspase 3 (-6.76 kcal/mol)
- 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid demonstrated the highest binding affinity with BcL2 (-8.20 kcal/mol)
- 3,4,5,6-Tetramethyloctane also showed significant interactions
These findings suggest that these bioactive compounds can effectively target cancer cell survival pathways and trigger apoptosis.
Researchers Behind the Study
This innovative research was led by Swapan Kumar Ghosh, Koushik Pandey, Madhuparna Ghosh, and Pradip Kumar Sur. The work was performed at the Molecular Mycopathology Lab, Cancer Research Unit, PG Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College (Autonomous), Rahara, Kolkata, jointly with Midnapore City College, Shri Ramkrishna Institute of Medical Sciences and Sanaka Hospital, and Kanchrapara College in West Bengal, India. Their combined knowledge of botany, paramedical sciences, and zoology was instrumental in unraveling the medicinal value of Astraeus asiaticus.
Potential for Drug Development
SwissADME and pkCSM tools-based drug-likeness prediction indicated that the most important compounds from F12 have favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, such as high gastrointestinal absorption, non-toxicity, and good solubility. None of the compounds broke Lipinski’s Rule of Five, indicating that they are good leads for drug development.
Conclusion
The Astraeus asiaticus study is significant for its natural anticancer potential. The F12 fraction of the ethyl acetate extract shows strong cytotoxicity against cervical, breast, and lung cancer cells but is non-toxic to normal cells. Its mechanism of action, which includes inducing apoptosis and molecular interactions with important cancer-related proteins, provides opportunities for further studies in drug development.
Due to its dual uses as a source of food and medication, conservation and sustainable Astraeus asiaticus harvesting is to be encouraged. Additional in vivo and clinical studies are necessary to prove its therapeutic use and establish it as an anticancer drug.
Dr. Nishant Mittal is a highly accomplished researcher with over 13 years of experience in the fields of cardiovascular biology and cancer research. His career is marked by significant contributions to stem cell biology, developmental biology, and innovative research techniques.
Research Highlights
Dr. Mittal's research has focused on several key areas:
1) Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration: He studied coronary vessel development and regeneration using zebrafish models1.
2) Cancer Biology: At Dartmouth College, he developed zebrafish models for studying tumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution in pancreatic cancer.
3) Developmental Biology: His doctoral work at Keio University involved identifying and characterizing medaka fish mutants with cardiovascular defects.
4) Stem Cell Research: He investigated the effects of folic acid on mouse embryonic stem cells and worked on cryopreservation techniques for hematopoietic stem cells.
Publications and Presentations
Dr. Mittal has authored several peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals such as Scientific Reports, Cardiovascular Research, and Disease Models & Mechanisms1. He has also presented his research at numerous international conferences, including the Stanford-Weill Cornell Cardiovascular Research Symposium and the Weinstein Cardiovascular Development Conference.
In summary, Dr. Nishant Mittal is a dedicated and accomplished researcher with a strong track record in cardiovascular and cancer biology, demonstrating expertise in various model systems and a commitment to advancing scientific knowledge through innovative research approaches.
